Artificial limb



Nov. 27, 1928.

I. P. BOGGS ARTIFICIAL LINE Filed. Nov. 17, 1-927 2' Sheets-Sheet Nov. 27, 1928.

l. P. BOGGS ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Nov. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Z P 3 Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

IRVINE P. BOGGS, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

ARTIFICIAL Lima.

Application filed November 17, 1927. Serial no. 233,948.

This invention relates to an improved artiticial limb which involves a new and dependable knee control action possessing suflicient elasticity and precision in operation, as to render it substantially lifelike in operation.

Briefly, the invention comprises an artificial limb, which embodies a thigh portion, a lower leg portion, and an especially designed knee joint construction, together with shown), which the user places on the shoulmanuaily manipulated means for regulating. the activity of the knee joint to permit the lower leg portion to be manipulated at the will of the wearer, to simulate the natural walking of this particular individual.

The particular mechanical details incorporated in the new arrangement will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary view with portions broken away and shown in section to disclose clearly the internal structural details, and their relative arrangement and association.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the structure.

Fi 3 is a cross section taken approximately upon the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 47- 1: of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, it will be observed that the reference character 5 designates generally, the thigh, while the reference character 6 designates the lower leg portion. These portions 5 and 6 are constructed at their meeting ends to provide a novel artificial knee joint including the p ball-like portion 7, extending into a correspondingly shaped socket in the leg portion 6. V

The portions 5 and 6 are connected together by a pivot bolt 8 fastened at its outerend to the reinforcing straps 9, riveted to opposite sides of the leg sect-ions 6. This arrangement allows the joint to break in the usual manner.

It will be noted that a flexible tie 10 is provided, and is looped at its opposite ends around cross pins 11 and 11 carried by the respective sections, as better shown in Fig. 1. This tie member 10 limits the swinging movement of the lower section 6 in a forward direction.

Attention is now invited to a flexible cord of appropriate texture designated by the numeral 12. This extends from the hollowed out portion of the thigh section 5 down tion 6, where its lower ends are slit as shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines.

The slit portions 13 are anchored as at 14. Fastened to the upper end of this cord 12 is a cross head 15, provided with a pulley 16 over which cables or their equivalents are trained. Incidentally, these cables extend up and connect with a shoulder'saddle (not der in a convenient manner.v Thus by exerting an upward lift on the shoulderstrap or saddle, the wearer can lift up on the head 15, and in turn exert an upward stress upon the cord 12, thus bringing the leg section 6 forward, in an obvious manner.

It will be noticed particularly from Fig. 3, that adjusting means is employed for regulating the sensitivity of action of this cord 12, and this means comprises a plate 18 fastened to the bottom of the thigh section, 5 by screws or other fastening means, this plate having guide grooves slidably receiving the flanges 19 on a sliding yoke 20. This yoke carries asmall pulley 21 and is mounted for adjustment on the shank of a screw 22.

The head of the screw, which passes through an upstanding flange 23, is accessible. through anopening 24. In other words, a

screw driver can be placed in thru this opening 24, and'engaged with the kerf of the head of the screw, to turn the screwto move the yoke 20 back or forth, thus permitting the pulley 21 to be brought in contact with the adjacent port-ion of the cord 12, as shown lainly'in Fig. 1.

Vith this arrangement, the tension on this cord can be regulated, and the action of the lower leg return governed by the wearer.

In operation, it is understood that by anchoring the lower end of the cord 12 to the calf portion of the lower leg section, and by passing it upwardly and over the pulley on the regulating device, as. shown in Fig. 1, and by connecting the pull cable 17 to the shoulder saddle, the forward motion of the lower leg section 6 can be controlltxl by the wearer.

Obviously, when weight is brought to bear upon the breakable knee joint, the lower leg section 6 moves rearwardly. Then, as the thigh section 5 is brought. forwardly, in taking the next step, the wearer exerts upward pull on the shoulder saddle, which transmits motion to the cord 12 through the medium of the pull cables 17. This therefore exerts a forward thrust upon the lower leg section 6 and returns it to normal position to take the next step. j

Therefore, the wearer can manipulate the artificial limb in aimanner to simulate natural Walking. In addition, he can regulate the activity through the tension device described. It is quite clear how this is accomplished.

Minor changes coming within the invention claimed ma be resorted to if desired.

Having t us described my invention, what I claim as new is In an artificial limb of the class described, a thigh section, a lower leg section and a complementa-l breakable joint between said sections, means for limiting the swinging movement of the lower leg section in a forward direction, a pivotal connection between said sections, a cord fastened at its lower end with the calf of said lower leg section and extending upwardly and into the thigh section, a head on the upper end of said cord, pulleys carried by said head and pull cables trained over said pulleys, said pull cables adapted to be associated with shoulder operated means, together with manually adjustable tension regulating means mounted in the thigh section, and cooper-able with said cords, said last named means includlng a plate, a yoke shdably mounted on the plate, an adjusting screw for the yoke, and a pulley carried by the yoke and cooperable with said cord.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

IRVINE P. BOGGS. 

